Monali Thakur
Encyclopedia
Monali Thakur is an India
n playback singer who sings mainly in Bollywood
movies.
television soap, Aalokito ek Indu, in which she played the lead role Indu.
Thakur got her start by singing in school and college competitions and performing at local functions, and then rose to popularity after placing ninth in Indian Idol 2
, the Indian version of Pop Idol. She was never in the Bottom 3 until her elimination, and immediately after she was eliminated, judge Anu Malik
offered to help her find a future singing opportunity, which turned out to be a playback song in the movie Jaan-E-Mann
.
In spite of coming from a musically enriched family, she had to struggle a lot hard even after Indian Idol
to get a strong foothold in the music industry. Finally, she got an offer to sing for music director Pritam
to sing two songs for the hit movie Race in 2008 - "Khwab Dekhe (Sexy lady)" and "Zara Zara Touch Me". She was originally scheduled for only one song, but her first recording impressed the film's directors Abbas and Mustan enough for them to book her a second. "Zara Zara Touch Me" was enormously successful, becoming the fourth-most-played song on Indian radio during the first half of 2008. It also spawned a lawsuit by Taiwanese-American singer Leehom Wang, however, with Lee-hom claiming that "Zara Zara Touch Me" was too similar to the song "Deep in the Bamboo Grove" from his album The Sun and Moon in My Heart, which had been released in December 2004.
Since then there had been no looking back for her. She had sung for a number of movies in Bollywood
and truckloads in Bengali
, and is working on her first solo album. As of June 2008, Thakur claimed that the album included a planned nine tracks, of which six had already been written by Thakur and Sachin Gupta
, and would be in a blend of rock and classical styles. She had sung songs like Jingle and Hai Junoon Remix in Badmaash Company
and New York
, respectively. However, her parts in both of these songs are not featured in the albums.
She also got nominated for best singer in IIFA Awards for the song "Zara Zara Touch Me".
and many more in Bengali.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n playback singer who sings mainly in Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
movies.
Biography
Thakur comes from a musical family, as her father is Bengali singer and actor Shakti Thakur and her sister Mehuli Thakur Goswami is also a professional playback singer. Being a child, she has also appeared in a BengaliBengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
television soap, Aalokito ek Indu, in which she played the lead role Indu.
Thakur got her start by singing in school and college competitions and performing at local functions, and then rose to popularity after placing ninth in Indian Idol 2
Indian Idol (Season 2)
The second season of Indian Idol began on November 21, 2005 and concluded on April 22, 2006. It was hosted by Mini Mathur and Aman Verma. Anu Malik, Farah Khan and Sonu Nigam returned to judge. Sandeep Acharya won the competition. It is the first and only season with a male fourth place finalist...
, the Indian version of Pop Idol. She was never in the Bottom 3 until her elimination, and immediately after she was eliminated, judge Anu Malik
Anu Malik
Anu Malik , born Anwar Sardaar Malik, is a famous music director in the Hindi film industry. Son of veteran music director Sardar Malek, Anu Malik made his debut as a music composer in the year 1977. After a considerable period of struggle, the 90's welcomed Anu with hits like 'Phir Teri Kahani...
offered to help her find a future singing opportunity, which turned out to be a playback song in the movie Jaan-E-Mann
Jaan-E-Mann
Jaan-E-Mann is a 2006 Bollywood film starring Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta in the lead roles. The movie is directed by Shirish Kunder and is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The film re-unites Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar post the success of Mujhse Shaadi Karogi . This was Shirish...
.
In spite of coming from a musically enriched family, she had to struggle a lot hard even after Indian Idol
Indian Idol
Indian Idol is an adaptation of the Pop Idol format. It started airing in India with the first season in 2004-2005 and followed that with second , third and fourth seasons...
to get a strong foothold in the music industry. Finally, she got an offer to sing for music director Pritam
Pritam
Pritam Chakraborty , better known as Pritam is a music director and composer from Kolkata who currently works in Bollywood, Mumbai.- Early life :...
to sing two songs for the hit movie Race in 2008 - "Khwab Dekhe (Sexy lady)" and "Zara Zara Touch Me". She was originally scheduled for only one song, but her first recording impressed the film's directors Abbas and Mustan enough for them to book her a second. "Zara Zara Touch Me" was enormously successful, becoming the fourth-most-played song on Indian radio during the first half of 2008. It also spawned a lawsuit by Taiwanese-American singer Leehom Wang, however, with Lee-hom claiming that "Zara Zara Touch Me" was too similar to the song "Deep in the Bamboo Grove" from his album The Sun and Moon in My Heart, which had been released in December 2004.
Since then there had been no looking back for her. She had sung for a number of movies in Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
and truckloads in Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, and is working on her first solo album. As of June 2008, Thakur claimed that the album included a planned nine tracks, of which six had already been written by Thakur and Sachin Gupta
Sachin Gupta
Sachin Gupta is an Indian playwright and theatre director.-Biography:Professionally Sachin Gupta is a qualified software engineer. By passion he is qualified to dream big and contribute positively and continuously in the field of Theatre...
, and would be in a blend of rock and classical styles. She had sung songs like Jingle and Hai Junoon Remix in Badmaash Company
Badmaash Company
Badmaash Company is a 2010 Bollywood film directed by actor-turned-director Parmeet Sethi, produced by Aditya Chopra and starring Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Meiyang Chаng and Vir Das in the lead roles...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, respectively. However, her parts in both of these songs are not featured in the albums.
She also got nominated for best singer in IIFA Awards for the song "Zara Zara Touch Me".
Filmography
- Aiyaa (Hindi) (2012) "Aga Bai"
- Kucch Luv JaisaaKucch Luv JaisaaKucch Luv Jaisaa is a 2011 Indian film. Written and directed by Barnali Shukla, the film stars Shefali Shah and Rahul Bose. Kucch Luv Jaisaa marks the second film that Bose and Shah have acted in together; they also played a married couple in Aparna Sen's 15 Park Avenue . Model Neetu Chandra and...
(Hindi) (2011) "Naina" - Anjaana AnjaaniAnjaana AnjaaniAnjaana Anjaani is a Hindi Romantic film directed by Siddharth Anand, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Zayed Khan. The film is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Pvt. Ltd banner. The film's music has been composed by Vishal-Shekhar, who have...
(2010) - "Anjaana Anjaani Ki Kahani" - Badmaash CompanyBadmaash CompanyBadmaash Company is a 2010 Bollywood film directed by actor-turned-director Parmeet Sethi, produced by Aditya Chopra and starring Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Meiyang Chаng and Vir Das in the lead roles...
(2010) - "Jingle Jingle" - PrincePrincePrince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
(2010) - "Ishq Mein" - Dulha Mil GayaDulha Mil GayaThe soundtrack was composed by Lalit Pandit and released on December 14, 2009. The lyrics are written by Mudassar Aziz; songs are arranged by Richard Mithra and Kashinath Kashyap; and all songs are mixed and engineered by Abani Tanti...
(2010) - "Dilrubaon Ke Jalwe" - Mr. Bhatti on Chutti (2009)
- Billu (2009) - "Khudaya Khair"
- Golmaal ReturnsGolmaal ReturnsGolmaal Returns is a 2008 Bollywood comedy film directed by Rohit Shetty. The film is a sequel to the 2006 film, Golmaal Fun Unlimited with Ajay Devgn, Tusshar Kapoor and Arshad Warsi reprising their roles and Shreyas Talpade taking on the role originally played by Sharman Joshi. Kareena Kapoor,...
(2008) - "Meow" - Race (2008) - "Zara Zara Touch Me", "Khwaab Dekhe (Sexy Lady)"
- Jaan-E-MannJaan-E-MannJaan-E-Mann is a 2006 Bollywood film starring Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta in the lead roles. The movie is directed by Shirish Kunder and is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The film re-unites Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar post the success of Mujhse Shaadi Karogi . This was Shirish...
(2006) - "Kubool Kar Le" - Dil KabaddiDil KabaddiDil Kabaddi is a Hindi film directed by debutante Anil Sharma . The film stars Irrfan Khan, Rahul Bose, Konkona Sen Sharma, Soha Ali Khan, Payal Rohatgi, Rahul Khanna and special appearance by Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan....
(2008) - Krishnakanter Will (Bengali) (2007)
and many more in Bengali.